If you’re one of the many Amazon customers whose state has yet to reach an agreement about the collection of online sales tax, this will probably be bad news. This afternoon, the Senate voted in favor of the Marketplace Fairness Act, which would give each state the authority to compel online businesses to collect applicable taxes. [More]
Senate Signs Off On Marketplace Fairness Act; Online Sales Tax Inches Closer To Reality
By May 6, 2013
Symbolic Senate Vote Demonstrates Support For Marketplace Fairness Act
By March 22, 2013
There have been multiple attempts in recent years to push through some sort of federal law that would allow for state governments to collect sales tax on residents’ online purchases, but none have made it very far. However, a Senate vote this afternoon shows their might be some life in the latest iteration of the Marketplace Fairness Act. [More]
Retailers Love Latest Attempt At Online Sales Tax Law, eBay Not So Much
By February 14, 2013
As we mentioned yesterday, lawmakers in D.C. are going to take another stab at a federal law that would give states the ability to collect taxes from online retailers. Not surprisingly, the retail industry loves it, while eBay says it will only hurt small businesses. [More]
Lawmakers Set For Another Go At Federal Online Tax Law
By February 13, 2013
For several years, there has been a lot of talk — and a handful of legislative efforts — regarding a federal law that would give states the authority to compel online sellers to collect sales tax on purchases. None of these bills have passed, so it’s time to try again. [More]
Amazon E-Mailing Tennessee Residents To Remind Them Of Sales Tax Obligation [UPDATE: South Carolina Too]
By February 1, 2013
Even if your state doesn’t require Amazon to collect sales tax on purchases, you’re still supposed to be paying any applicable tax to the state when you file your annual tax returns. Virtually no one does. That’s why Amazon is e-mailing customers in Tennessee to remind them of their obligation. [More]
Seems Like Amazon Is Disregarding Georgia’s Efforts To Collect Sales Tax
By January 23, 2013
Back on New Year’s Eve, we predicted that a new state law intended to compel Amazon to collect sales tax on purchases made by Georgia residents would probably fail — and that seems to be exactly what is happening. [More]
New Law Will Try (And Probably Fail) To Make Amazon Collect Sales Tax In Georgia
By December 31, 2012
Starting tomorrow, Georgia will begin enforcing a new law intended to compel Amazon and other e-tailers to collect sales tax on purchase in that state. But it looks like Amazon may have a pretty easy work-around. [More]
Add Massachusetts To List Of States That Will Collect Sales Tax From Amazon
By December 11, 2012
Residents of Massachusetts, your days of “tax-free” shopping on Amazon are numbered, as the state’s governor has announced that the e-tail giant will begin collecting sales tax on purchases made by Mass. residents starting next fall. [More]
Court Rules Lap Dances Aren’t Art; Ruin Plans For My MFA Thesis
By October 23, 2012
In a story we’ve been following with great interest for quite some time, the top court of the state of New York has ruled that lap dances are not a form of performance art and are therefore not exempt from sales taxes. [More]
Californians Rush To Buy Before Amazon Starts Collecting Sales Tax
By September 5, 2012
Starting September 15, Amazon.com will start collecting sales tax on purchases made by residents of California. So with the clock counting down, a number of shoppers in the state are buying what they can in the next week and a half. [More]
Amazon To Start Collecting Sales Tax On Goods Shipped To Pennsylvania
By August 30, 2012
To kick off the weekend, Amazon will be collecting a 6% sales tax on orders shipped to Pennsylvania starting on Saturday, because of a state directive that requires it do so. A spokesman said that despite the fact that the company had fought the sales tax, Amazon had to reverse its position to comply with the state. [More]
SEC Investigates Sprint Over Allegations It Failed To Properly Collect Sales Tax
By August 2, 2012
Back in April, the New York Attorney General’s office filed a lawsuit against Sprint, alleging the wireless provider deliberately under-collected sales tax in an effort to remain competitive. Now, Sprint has revealed that it is under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission over these same allegations. [More]
Online Sales Tax For (Almost) All Inches Closer To Reality
By July 18, 2012
The halcyon days of not paying sales tax (even though you’re obliged to) on your Amazon purchases may be coming to an end once and for all, as members of Congress are doing more than just talking about the issue. Next Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the merits of creating a law allowing states to compel online retailers to collect sales taxes. [More]
Amazon’s Same-Day Delivery Could Make Bricks-And-Mortar Retailers Even More Irrelevant
By July 13, 2012
One of the few knocks against online retailers is the difficulty in getting your purchase immediately, meaning people continue to go to bricks-and-mortar stores when they need to get their hands on an item right away. But it looks like Amazon could take away that advantage from its competitors by expanding the number of warehouses it has around the country. [More]
Since We’re Bad At Paying Online Sales Taxes On Our Own, States Want Retailers To Take Charge
By July 9, 2012
If the ongoing battle between online retail giant Amazon and individual states has taught us anything, it’s that there’s a lot of money to be made from e-sales taxes. And since we as customers aren’t so great when it comes to paying those on our own, states across the country are ramping up efforts to have those taxes levied by the retailers themselves. [More]
Why Am I Being Charged Sales Tax On A XBOX Live Subscription?
By June 27, 2012
Victor found a great deal on an XBOX Live 12-month subscription card from Buy.com, but was surprised to see that the company charged him sales tax. No other online vendors that he tried charge sales tax on the cards––which are, after all, more of an intangible item, akin to a gift card. [More]
Here Is Why You Should Always Check The Sales Tax On Your Online Order
By June 18, 2012
When you place an order online — especially through a large national chain — you might expect that your sales tax would be calculated accurately. But, as demonstrated by the Cold Stone Creamery store that charges 25% tax, that isn’t always the case. [More]
Amazon To Collect Sales Tax, Build Distribution Center In New Jersey
By May 30, 2012
One by one, the number of states where Amazon does not collect sales tax continues to shrink. New Jersey Governer Chris Christie has announced that the e-tail giant will not only begin collecting sales tax in the Garden State, but will also open a distribution center there. [More]
